Coming into the window, it was clear Barnsley were desperate for reinforcements. 

The Reds were conceding far too many goals, whilst some forwards had lost form or simply weren’t performing for Barnsley in the league. 

Barnsley also needed more additions in the striker department. 

In terms of outgoings, they sold Neil Farrugia, who never performed at League One level despite promising cup appearances, to Dundee United and loaned out Jon Russell to Mansfield after he no longer fit the system Hourihane wanted to operate and had missed some of pre-season. 

Loan goalkeeper Murphy Cooper was surprisingly sent back to QPR by Barnsley as Hourihane looked to freshen up his defence and fellow goalkeeper Jackson Smith was loaned to League Two side Grimsby where he has kept six clean sheets in a row and impressed.

Caylan Vickers looked like a real coup for Barnsley at the start of the season after joining on loan from Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, however soon lost form and couldn’t work his way back into the team after stints on the right wing and in attacking midfield. He joined Wigan Athletic for the rest of the season after returning to the Seagulls. 

Defender Jake Rooney was unsurprisingly sent back to Derby County, after struggling for minutes and a torrid first half playing at left back away at Doncaster and not particularly impressing in cup appearances. He has now joined National League side Boston United. 

Promising youngster Fabio Jalo joined Oldham on loan until the end of the season after not looking like his usual self after returning from a long injury, whilst Kacper Lopata joined Walsall on loan until the end of the season after being sent back by Bristol Rovers.   

Connor Barratt also joined Irish side Galway United on loan until the end of the season. 

Top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn was also sold to Championship side Wrexham on Deadline Day. A move to a side above Barnsley was always going to happen eventually, and the 28-year-old left on good terms after a brace in his last game at home to Stevenage. He deserves the chance to play at a higher level, and he may also find himself in the Premier League next season if Wrexham can gain their fourth promotion in a row. 

In terms of incomings, Corey O’Keeffe returned from Stockport County and has impressed, adding new energy and tenacity to the side. He was deployed at right wing-back when first coming back into the side, however, has remained at right back after Hourihane reverted to a back four.  

Experienced defender Eoghan O’Connell joined on a free after leaving Wrexham in September, and the 30-year-old has looked assured in the backline, including demonstrating a calmness on the ball. Goalkeeper Owen Goodman also joined on loan from Crystal Palace after returning from a loan at Huddersfield Town and has looked more dominant than Cooper aerially, however, hasn’t pulled up any trees when it comes to shot stopping. 

Youngster Charlie Lennon joined from Middlesbrough after impressing on loan in the sixth tier for Darlington however hasn’t played a minute after Hourihane said he wasn’t ready for League One football. Was this the type of signing Barnsley needed going into a busy schedule? 
 

Right winger Scott Banks joined on loan from St. Pauli until the end of the season after struggling for gametime at Blackpool. He has impressed so far having provided two assists in two games and looks a real threat. Surely Barnsley must look to bring him in permanently in the summer. 

Tawanda Chirewa joined on loan from Wolves until the end of the season and looks to be a squad option and someone who can help reduce the workload of Barnsley’s starting wingers. He is yet to score in 35 club appearances but has done well internationally for Zimbabwe. 

Barnsley also brought back Tom Bradshaw to the club on loan from Oxford United until the end of the season, who impressed in his first spell as a Red. He is another experienced striker who played alongside Conor Hourihane for a brief spell at Oakwell. He has not scored a league goal for a while however the 33-year-old could still cause damage at League One level. 

It was shaping up to be a tolerable window for Barnsley fans when compared to previous recent transfer windows. 

Conor Hourihane clearly had taken control, as he removed deadwood in the squad whilst also addressing gaps. 

The club also stated that if star players such as Reyes Cleary and Davis Keillor-Dunn were to be sold, there were targets The Reds would replace them with. 

This was to be tested on Deadline Day, when Barnsley accepted a reported 2-million-pound bid that could rise to 3 million for Davis Keillor-Dunn. 

However, no direct replacement for the 28-year-old was brought in, with the Barnsley hierarchy opting to save the money for the summer. 

Now, Barnsley head into a busy second half of the season with just two strikers who have a combined age of 71. 

It is unacceptable to simply write off a season and instead look to the free agent market after selling your top scorer, and Barnsley season ticket holders who pay good money deserve better. 

Yes, Barnsley will most likely end up in mid table this campaign, however the risk-adverse hierarchy at the football club either aren’t willing to spend money until the summer, accepting they admit the season is over or they simply left it too late after accepting the Keillor-Dunn bid to bring in an adequate replacement. 

It’s either money-saving or sheer incompetence, but either is unacceptable and the ownership has rightly received backlash from supporters. 

A low attendance on Tuesday painted a clear picture, and three for two offers on home games are unlikely to sway a fed-up fanbase. 

The ownership group must communicate why the Keillor-Dunn money was not reinvested and must make assurances it will be spent in the summer. 

Or they must listen to calls from Barnsley fans to sell the football club after years of decline on the pitch. 

Chairman Neerav Parekh stated he would leave if he was no longer wanted, and it is clear to see that time is now. 

Will he stay true to his word, or will it be more broken promises?